Essay On Shooting An Elephant By George Orwell

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Conformation in society is guaranteed in one way or another, but it is your decisions in standing up for what you believe is right and going against the social norms, even though it may be difficult is what keeps society in a fair democracy. In George Orwell’s “Shooting An Elephant” George has to face societal pressures of the Burmans and also being a British Police Officer. Sometimes the societal favourite may not be what is best and it may be up to one person to do what is just and not to conform, thus helping a person or people as a whole. Other times the person in power may fall victim to society’s pressure and do something against their beliefs in order to keep their reputation. In the short story “Shooting An Elephant” George Orwell experiences the conflict between pursuing a personal desire and choosing to conform .

As a British Man In Burma George Orwell already sticks out in a crowd and being an authoritative figure does not help. Most Englishmen at the time were imperialists trying to push their European ways on the Burmans, however George was not like that, he believed that the imperialist ways are wrong, and that …show more content…

In the sense of British imperialism he goes against the norm, rebelling against the british empire, trying to conform with the people of Burma. Killing the elephant is a prime example of trying to conform, several times he says he does not want to kill it but as the crowd gathers he feels more and more pressured to kill it. We see socialiatal conformation take place in a very interesting way since he is pushing his society's beliefs away and trying to conform to a part of the people of Burma’s. George Orwell’s “Shooting An Elephant” showcases many conflicts of pursuing what you believe in and trying to conform to society’s way of life through George’s personal story of his time In Burma Being a British Police

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